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http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2007/4/16/135636.shtml?s=os
Iran: Sanctions Could Push Nuclear Drive
NewsMax.com Wires Monday, April 16, 2007
TEHRAN, Iran -- President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday warned that Iran
would respond to additional U.N. sanctions with new nuclear advances, in yet
another show of defiance to international demands that the country roll back
its atomic program.
The U.N. Security Council has set a deadline of late May for Iran to halt
its uranium enrichment program, warning it will gradually ratchet up its
punishments. The council imposed limited sanctions in December and
strengthened them slightly last month because of Iran's refusal to suspend
enrichment.
The enrichment process can produce fuel for nuclear reactors or - if taken
to a higher degree - the material for atomic bombs. Iran, however, denies
accusations from the U.S. and some of its allies that the country is
secretly developing nuclear weapons.
"After the first resolution, we undertook the nuclear fuel cycle; after the
second one, we began the industrial phase of nuclear fuel; and if another
resolution is issued, new capabilities of the Iranian nation will surface,"
the state broadcasting company's Web site quoted Ahmadinejad as saying in a
speech in the southern city of Kazeroun.
The U.N.'s latest sanctions ban Iranian arms exports and freeze the assets
of 28 individuals and companies involved in Iran's nuclear or ballistic
missile programs.
Iran has rejected the sanctions and announced a partial suspension of
cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy
Association.
The Iranian president did not specify how the country would ramp up its
development in response to a third set of sanctions.
Last week, Iran said it had begun operating 3,000 centrifuges at its Natanz
plant - nearly 10 times the previously known number. The U.S., Britain,
France and others criticized the announcement, but experts expressed
skepticism that Iran's claims were true.
During Monday's speech, Ahmadinejad reiterated that Iran would not back down
from its right to pursue nuclear development and maintained the peaceful
nature of the country's program.
"The Iranian nation will use all capacities of nuclear energy in
agriculture, industry, medicine and generating electricity," he said.
Iran's defiance has heightened concerns in the region that the U.S. or
Israel could respond with a military strike against the country's nuclear
facilities.
The U.S. stoked these fears last month when it held a military exercise off
Iran's coast that included two aircraft carrier groups, its largest show of
force in the region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Mullen attempted to quell
concerns Monday by saying the U.S. had no plan to attack Iran and the
heightened naval presence was meant to reassure its regional allies.
"I'm aware of no plans that involve any kind of attack on Iran," Mullen told
reporters in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. "All efforts with respect to
Iran, I believe, need to be handled through the diplomatic channels."
Iran: Sanctions Could Push Nuclear Drive
NewsMax.com Wires Monday, April 16, 2007
TEHRAN, Iran -- President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday warned that Iran
would respond to additional U.N. sanctions with new nuclear advances, in yet
another show of defiance to international demands that the country roll back
its atomic program.
The U.N. Security Council has set a deadline of late May for Iran to halt
its uranium enrichment program, warning it will gradually ratchet up its
punishments. The council imposed limited sanctions in December and
strengthened them slightly last month because of Iran's refusal to suspend
enrichment.
The enrichment process can produce fuel for nuclear reactors or - if taken
to a higher degree - the material for atomic bombs. Iran, however, denies
accusations from the U.S. and some of its allies that the country is
secretly developing nuclear weapons.
"After the first resolution, we undertook the nuclear fuel cycle; after the
second one, we began the industrial phase of nuclear fuel; and if another
resolution is issued, new capabilities of the Iranian nation will surface,"
the state broadcasting company's Web site quoted Ahmadinejad as saying in a
speech in the southern city of Kazeroun.
The U.N.'s latest sanctions ban Iranian arms exports and freeze the assets
of 28 individuals and companies involved in Iran's nuclear or ballistic
missile programs.
Iran has rejected the sanctions and announced a partial suspension of
cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy
Association.
The Iranian president did not specify how the country would ramp up its
development in response to a third set of sanctions.
Last week, Iran said it had begun operating 3,000 centrifuges at its Natanz
plant - nearly 10 times the previously known number. The U.S., Britain,
France and others criticized the announcement, but experts expressed
skepticism that Iran's claims were true.
During Monday's speech, Ahmadinejad reiterated that Iran would not back down
from its right to pursue nuclear development and maintained the peaceful
nature of the country's program.
"The Iranian nation will use all capacities of nuclear energy in
agriculture, industry, medicine and generating electricity," he said.
Iran's defiance has heightened concerns in the region that the U.S. or
Israel could respond with a military strike against the country's nuclear
facilities.
The U.S. stoked these fears last month when it held a military exercise off
Iran's coast that included two aircraft carrier groups, its largest show of
force in the region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Mullen attempted to quell
concerns Monday by saying the U.S. had no plan to attack Iran and the
heightened naval presence was meant to reassure its regional allies.
"I'm aware of no plans that involve any kind of attack on Iran," Mullen told
reporters in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. "All efforts with respect to
Iran, I believe, need to be handled through the diplomatic channels."
